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Call for Proposals

The Program for Breakthrough Biomedical Research (PBBR) invites proposals for funding in two award categories:

  • NFR - New Frontier Research
  • TMC - Technologies, Methodologies, and Cores

PBBR seeks to stimulate and support highly innovative basic science research at UCSF. The focus is on basic science projects of potentially high impact that are creative, risky, and transformative. We seek novel ideas for basic science projects that go beyond those that receive funding from NIH and other traditional funding mechanisms.

New Frontier Research (NFR) (see below for additional details):

  • $25,000 - $150,000 for one year per award
  • Supports basic science research projects at levels of risk and innovation that substantially exceed those supported by NIH
  • Multiple awards granted annually
  • Both single-PI and multiple-PI applications are welcome

Technologies, Methodologies, and Cores (TMC) (see below for additional details):

  • $50,000 - $500,000 for one year in matching funds per award
  • Strong emphasis on invention of new technologies, development of new methodologies, establishment of technology cores, and/or acquisition of shared instruments
  • Multiple awards granted annually
  • Both single-PI and multiple-PI applications are welcome

Next proposal deadline for both funding mechanisms (NFR, TMC): Thursday, April 2, 2026, 5:00 pm PDT

We encourage investigators from all career stages to apply. We also invite multiple-PI projects that combine distinct research approaches to focus on a single problem and include PIs from different UCSF campuses.

Eligibility: See individual award descriptions, below.

If you have questions: Send inquiries to Matt Arnegard, PBBR Program Manager ([email protected]).

New Frontier Research (NFR) Proposals

PBBR awards multiple NFR grants each year. The number of NFR awards depends on the boldness and innovation of the applications submitted and the amount of funds available in a given year. Award amounts range from $25,000 to $150,000 for one year. Awards will be made to both single-PI and multiple-PI projects, especially projects that combine distinct research approaches to focus on a single problem and involve collaborative work across different UCSF campuses (e.g., Parnassus and Mission Bay, Mission Bay and Mt. Zion, etc.).

New Frontier Research awards are intended to support UCSF faculty for the development of the best science and ideas. Proposals from all career stages are invited. Very high risk, transformative research that is many years from NIH support is encouraged. Novel projects or programs that require seed support may also be supported under the NFR mechanism. Applicants should explicitly address the issues of innovation, risk, and impact in their proposal.

All funds must be used for the conduct of research. Faculty and administrative salaries, student tuition/fees, travel, and food/entertainment are specifically excluded. Salaries for graduate students, postdocs, and professional technical staff are allowed. Funding is expected to begin in June 2026.

Eligibility for NFR awards (please read carefully):

  • UCSF Faculty with an Academic Senate Appointment (no adjunct appointments); see https://senate.ucsf.edu/FacultyHandbook-UCSF.pdf.
  • Faculty member of BMS, PIBS, and/or QBC Graduate Programs. For proposals with more than one investigator, only one investigator needs to meet this eligibility requirement.
  • HHMI Faculty are not eligible for NFR awards. Gladstone and Gallo Faculty are eligible, but they must meet the above eligibility criteria and funds must be managed using a UCSF Chart of Account (COA).

NFR proposal deadline: Thursday, April 2, 2026, 5:00 pm PDT

NFR proposal instructions: Proposals should consist of the following items in the order listed:

  1. Cover Page: Cover page with name of award program, deadline, title of proposal, amount of funding requested, Principal Investigator name(s), academic title(s), number of years at UCSF, department(s), phone number(s), UCSF box number(s), and email address(es). Identify the UCSF department that will manage the award, the accounting manager/contact name, UCSF box number, email address, and phone number. Scroll to the bottom to see a sample NFR cover page.
  2. Biosketch(es): An NIH biosketch, including personal statement, for each PI.
  3. Current & Pending Support: All current and pending intramural and extramural research support information for each PI, following the NIH format.
  4. Project Description: Description (2 pages or less) of proposed research, innovative features, and potential impact. Figures must be included within these 2 pages; references do not need to be included in the 2-page limit.
  5. Budget and Budget Justification: Detailed budget and budget justification, explaining how the funds will be used (any format).

NFR proposal submission: As a single PDF, please email the documents outlined above to Matt Arnegard ([email protected]) no later than Thursday, April 2, 2026, 5:00 pm PDT.

Technologies, Methodologies, and Cores (TMC) Proposals

PBBR offers matching funds to support the invention or refinement of new technologies and methodologies, establishment of technology cores, and acquisition of shared instruments that will serve a broad community. For core facility and shared instrumentation proposals, a plan must be presented whereby the facility would be financially and operationally maintained beyond the period of PBBR funding.

The number of Technologies, Methodologies, and Cores grants awarded depends on the quality of the applications submitted, the needs of the UCSF basic science community, and the amount of funds available in any given year. Award amounts can range from $50,000 to $500,000 in matching funds for one year. Awards will be made to both single-PI and multiple-PI projects, especially projects that combine distinct research approaches to focus on a single problem and involve work at different UCSF campuses (e.g., Parnassus and Mission Bay, Mission Bay and Mt. Zion, etc.).

All funds must be used for the conduct of research. Faculty and administrative salaries, student tuition/fees, travel, and food/entertainment are specifically excluded. Salaries for graduate students, postdocs, and professional technical staff are allowed. Funding will begin in fall 2026. Please note, as outlined below, that there are 2 phases of review for TMC proposals.

Eligibility for TMC awards (please read carefully):

  • UCSF Faculty with an Academic Senate Appointment (no adjunct appointments); see https://senate.ucsf.edu/FacultyHandbook-UCSF.pdf.
  • Faculty member of BMS, PIBS, and/or QBC Graduate Programs. For proposals with more than one investigator, only one investigator needs to meet this eligibility requirement.
  • HHMI Faculty are eligible to apply for TMC awards. Gladstone and Gallo Faculty must meet the above eligibility criteria, and funds must be managed using a UCSF chart string. The UCSF Community must have easy, open access to the technology, methodology, or core developed by a TMC project.

TMC pre-proposal deadline: Thursday, April 2, 2026, 5:00 pm PDT

TMC pre-proposal instructions: The first stage of the TMC application process is the submission of a TMC pre-proposal (described here). Based on review of TMC pre-proposals, selected applicants may be invited to submit full TMC proposals and will receive additional instructions at that time. TMC pre-proposals should consist of the following items in the order listed:

  1. Cover Page: Cover page with name of award program, deadline, title of proposal, amount of funding requested, Principal Investigator name(s), academic title(s), number of years at UCSF, department(s), phone number(s), UCSF box number(s), and email address(es). Identify the UCSF department that will manage the award, the accounting manager/contact name, UCSF box number, email address, and phone number. Scroll to the bottom to see a sample cover page.
  2. Biosketch(es): An NIH biosketch, including personal statement, for each PI.
  3. Current & Pending Support: All current and pending intramural and extramural research support information for each PI, following the NIH format.
  4. Project Description: Description (2 pages or less) of the technology, methodology, or core; its significance; innovative features; potential impact; and availability elsewhere. Figures must be included within these 2 pages; references do not need to be included in the 2-page limit.
  5. Potential Space Information: For a shared instrument or core facility, list UCSF PIs (with their department affiliations) who will use the instrument or facility; identify potential space for the facility (commitment of space is required if the pre-proposal advances).
  6. Budget and Budget Justification: Detailed budget and budget justification, explaining how the funds will be used (any format).
  7. Matching Funds Information: Source and amount of matching funds sought or in place. These can be departmental funds, another grant, a contract, industry funds, etc.

TMC pre-proposal submission: As a single PDF, please email the documents outlined above to Matt Arnegard ([email protected]) no later than Thursday, April 2, 2026, 5:00 pm PDT.

Cover Page Format

Sample NFR Proposal Cover Page:

Image showing an example of what an NFR proposal cover page should look like

Sample TMC Proposal Cover Page:

Image showing an example of what a TMC proposal cover page should look like